Archibald Sayce gave comparative data on several of these lists in his book The Ancient Empires of the East (1884),[2] in addition to the lists found in Herodotus, Diodorus, Eratosthenes, and even a fanciful list found in "the Arabic writers". Yet another fanciful list that does not appear in Sayce, is found in the Book of Sothis that George Syncellus attributed to Manetho.

Legendary period

In the texts of the Palermo, Turin and Manetho king lists, there are different versions of names of eight god kings that ruled Egypt in the beginning.[3]

First Dynasty

The First Dynasty ruled from approximately 3050 BCE to 2890 BCE, by some chronological schemes. (There are no precise or agreed-upon year dates for any of the Old or Middle Kingdom periods, and reign estimates differ widely from one Egyptologist to the next.)

Old Kingdom

The Old Kingdom is the period in the third millennium BCE when Egypt attained its first continuous peak of civilisational complexity and achievement (the first of three so-called "Kingdom" periods which mark the high points of civilization in the Nile Valley), spanning the period when Egypt was ruled by the Third Dynasty through the Sixth Dynasty (2686–2181 BCE). Many Egyptologists also include the Memphite Seventh and Eighth Dynasties in the Old Kingdom as a continuation of the administration centralised at Memphis. The Old Kingdom was followed by a period of disunity and relative cultural decline referred to by Egyptologists as the First Intermediate Period -- or, as the Egyptians called it, the "first illness."

The royal capital of Egypt during the Old Kingdom was located at Memphis, where Djoser established his court. The Old Kingdom is perhaps best known, however, for the large number of pyramids which were constructed at this time as pharaonic burial places. For this reason, the Old Kingdom is frequently referred to as "the Age of the Pyramids".

Fourth Dynasty

The Fourth Dynasty ruled from 2613 to 2498 BCE and included the pharaohs who had the Great Pyramids built, Khufu (Cheops), Khafra (Chephren) and Menkaura (Mycerinus).

Nomen (Praenomen)

Image

Comments

Dates

Sneferu

Built the Bent Pyramid, which is a pyramid built at a normal angle at the bottom but drastically changes at the top. He also built the first "true" pyramid, known as the Red Pyramid. Some say that he was buried at the Red Pyramid, while others say that he was buried at the Bent Pyramid. Bones have been found at the Red Pyramid, but there is no evidence that this is Sneferu's body.

2613–2589

Khufu

Greek form: Cheops. Built the Great Pyramid of Giza. Note that Khufu is spoken of in early sources as being "third" of his family to rule, although there is no known record of a Pharaoh between Sneferu and Khufu. One supposition is that there might have been a very short reign of some elder brother of Khufu, whose inscriptions, name, and monuments have perished for one reason or another.

2589–2566

Djedefra (Radjedef)

Believed to have created the Great Sphinx of Giza as a monument for his deceased father. He also created a pyramid at Abu Rawash however this pyramid is no longer intact as it is believed the Romans recycled the materials it was made from. Before being demolished by the Romans, according to a documentary aired by the History Channel, the pyramid may actually have been the highest ever built (about 20 meters taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza although this is due to its elevated location rather than the size from base to tip).

2566–2558

Khafra

Greek form:

Chephren His pyramid is the second largest in Giza. Built the Sphinx of Giza. || 2558–2532

First Intermediate Period

The Old Kingdom rapidly collapsed after the death of Pepi II. He had reigned for 94 years, longer than any monarch in history, and died aged 100. The latter years of his reign were marked by inefficiency because of his advanced age.

The Union of the Two Kingdoms fell apart and regional leaders had to cope with the resulting famine.

Around 2160 BCE, a new line of pharaohs tried to reunite Lower Egypt from their capital in Herakleopolis Magna. In the meantime, a rival line based at Thebes was reuniting Upper Egypt and a clash between the two rival dynasties was inevitable.

Around 2055 BCE, a descendant of the pharaoh Intef III defeated the Herakleopolitan pharaohs, reunited the Two Lands, founded the Eleventh Dynasty and ruled as Mentuhotep II, the first pharaoh of the Middle Kingdom.

Seventh and Eighth Dynasties (combined)

The Seventh and Eighth Dynasties ruled from 2181 to 2160 BCE.
(This table is based on the Abydos Table from the Temple of Seti I, taken from www.narmer.pl/main/abydos_en.html)

Ninth Dynasty

The Ninth Dynasty[23] ruled from 2160 to2130 BCE. The Turin King List has eighteen kings reigning in the Ninth and Tenth Dynasties. Of these, twelve names are missing and four are partial.[23]

Name

Comments

Dates

—

Manetho states that Achthoes founded this dynasty.

2160– ?

—

-

?

Neferkare III

-

?

Khety (Acthoes II)

-

?

Senenh— or Setut

-

?

—

-

?

Mer[ibre Khety]

-

?

Shed—

-

?

H—

-

?

Tenth Dynasty

The Tenth Dynasty was a local group that held sway over Lower Egypt that ruled from 2130 to 2040 BCE.

Name

Comments

Dates

Meryhathor

—

2130– ?

Neferkare IV

—

?

Wankare (Acthoes III)

—

?

Merykare

—

? –2040

Eleventh Dynasty

The Eleventh Dynasty was a local group with roots in Upper Egypt that ruled from 2134 to 1991 BCE.

Name

Comments

Dates

Mentuhotep I Tepy-a

—

Sehertawy Intef I

—

2134–2117

Wahankh Intef II

—

2117–2069

Nakhtnebtepnefer Intef III

—

2069–2060

Middle Kingdom

The Middle Kingdom (2060-1802 BCE) is the period from the end of the First Intermediate Period to the beginning of the Second Intermediate Period. In addition to the Twelfth Dynasty, some scholars include the Eleventh, Thirteenth and Fourteenth Dynasties in the Middle Kingdom. The Middle Kingdom can be noted for the expansion of trade outside of the kingdom that occurred during this time. This opening of trade eventually led to the downfall of the Middle Kingdom, induced by an invasion from the Hyksos.

Eleventh Dynasty continued

The second part of the Eleventh Dynasty is considered to be part of the Middle Kingdom of Egypt.

The Thirteenth Dynasty was much weaker than the Twelfth Dynasty, and was unable to hold onto the long land of Egypt. The provincial ruling family in Xois, located in the marshes of the western Delta, broke away from the central authority to form the Fourteenth Dynasty.

The Hyksos made their first appearance during the reign of Sobekhotep IV, and around 1720 BCE took control of the town of Avaris (the modern Tell el-Dab'a/Khata'na). The Hyksos, led by Salitis, the founder of the Fifteenth Dynasty, overran Egypt during the reign of Dedumose I.

Around the time Memphis fell to the Hyksos, the native Egyptian ruling house in Thebes declared its independence and set itself up as the Seventeenth Dynasty. This dynasty eventually drove the Hyksos back into Asia

Thirteenth Dynasty

The Thirteenth Dynasty (following the Turin King List) ruled from 1802 to around 1649 BCE and lasted 153 or 154 Yrs according to Manetho. This table should be contrasted with Known kings of the 13th Dynasty

Name

Comments

Dates

Sekhemre Khutawy Sobekhotep or Wegaf

Founded the 13th Dynasty. His reign is attested by several Nile Records and Papyri.

Through military dominance abroad, the New Kingdom saw Egypt's greatest territorial extent. It expanded far into Nubia in the south, and held wide territories in the Near East. Egyptian armies fought with Hittite armies for control of modern-day Syria.

Two of the best known pharaohs of the New Kingdom are Akhenaten, also known as Amenhotep IV, whose exclusive worship of the Aten is often interpreted as the first instance of monotheism, and Ramesses II, who attempted to recover the territories in modern Israel/Palestine, Lebanon and Syria that had been held in the Eighteenth Dynasty. His reconquest led to the Battle of Qadesh, where he led the Egyptian armies against the army of the Hittite king Muwatalli II.

His name means Lord of the truth is Ra. He ruled Egypt at the peak of her glory, his mortuary temple was the largest ever built, but was destroyed by Rameses II to build his own temple. Recent DNA testing proved he was the Grandfather of Tutankhamun

Co-regent and successor of Akhenaten. The identity of this individual is uncertain and disputed. Usually believed to be either a son or son-in-law of Akhenaten but sometimes identified as Akhenaten's wife Nefertiti. Other scholars distinguish two individuals between Akhenaten and Tutankhamun, namely Smenkhkare, who is then seen as male, and a female ruler, who is then most often identified as Akhenaten's eldest daughter Meritaten

Commonly believed to be the son of Akhenaten, probably reinstated the polytheistic religion and the name change reflects the change in primary deity from Aten to Amun. He is also known as the boy king.

Ended rule sharing power with High Priest of Amun Herihor ruling in the south and Smendes I ruling in the north, a period known as wehem mesut.[46]

1107-1077

Third Intermediate Period

The Third Intermediate Period (1077-732 BCE) marked the end of the New Kingdom after the collapse of the Egyptian empire. A number of dynasties of Libyan origin ruled, giving this period its alternative name of the Libyan Period.

Twenty-First Dynasty

The Twenty-First Dynasty was based at Tanis and was a relatively weak group. Theoretically, they were rulers of all Egypt, but in practice their influence was limited to Lower Egypt. They ruled from 1069 to 943 BCE

Ptolemaic Dynasty

The second Hellenistic dynasty, the Ptolemies ruled Egypt from 305 BCE until Egypt became a province of Rome in 30 BCE (whenever two dates overlap, that means there was a co-regency). The most famous member of this dynasty was Cleopatra VII, who in modern times is known simply as Cleopatra, and who had affairs with Mark Antony and Julius Caesar.

Name

Image

Comments

Dates

Ptolemy I Soter (Setepenre-meryamun Ptolemy)

Abdicated in 285 BCE; died in 283 BCE

305–285 BCE

Berenice I

Wife of Ptolemy I

?-285 BCE

Ptolemy II Philadelphos (Weserkare-meryamun Ptolemy)

-

288–246 BCE

Arsinoe I

Wife of Ptolemy II

284/81-ca. 274 BCE

Arsinoe II

Wife of Ptolemy II

277-270 BCE

Ptolemy III Euergetes I

-

246–222 BCE

Berenice II

Wife of Ptolemy III

244/3-222 BCE

Ptolemy IV Philopator

-

222–204 BCE

Arsinoe III

Wife of Ptolemy IV

220-204 BCE

Hugronaphor

Revolutionary Pharaoh in the South

205-199 BCE

Ankhmakis

Revolutionary Pharaoh in the South

199-185 BCE

Ptolemy V Epiphanes

Upper Egypt in revolt 207–186 BCE

204–180 BCE

Cleopatra I

Wife of Ptolemy V, co-regent with Ptolemy VI during his minority

193-176 BCE

Ptolemy VI Philometor

Died 145 BCE

180–164 BCE

Cleopatra II

Wife of Ptolemy VI

173-164 BCE

Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II

Proclaimed king by Alexandrians in 170 BCE; ruled jointly with Ptolemy VI Philometor and Cleopatra II from 169 to 164 BCE. Died 116 BCE

Married Ptolemy VIII; led revolt against him in 131 BCE and became sole ruler of Egypt.

163-127 BCE

Ptolemy VII Neos Philopator

Proclaimed co-ruler by father; later ruled under regency of his mother Cleopatra II

145-144 BCE

Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II

Restored

145-131 BCE

Cleopatra III

Second wife of Ptolemy VIII

142-131 BCE

Ptolemy Memphitis

Proclaimed King by Cleopatra II; soon killed by Ptolemy VIII

131 BCE

Ptolemy VIII Euergetes II

Restored

127-116 BCE

Cleopatra III

Restored with Ptolemy VIII; later co-regent with Ptolemy IX and X.

127-107 BCE

Cleopatra II

Reconciled with Ptolemy VIII; co-ruled with Cleopatra III and Ptolemy until 116.

124-116 BCE

Ptolemy IX Soter II

Died 80 BCE

116–110 BCE

Cleopatra IV

Shortly married to Ptolemy IX, but was pushed out by Cleopatra III

116-115 BCE

Ptolemy X Alexander I

Died 88 BCE

110–109 BCE

Berenice III

Forced to marry Ptolemy XI; murdered on his orders 19 days later

81-80 BCE

Ptolemy XI Alexander II

Young son of Ptolemy X Alexander; installed by Sulla; ruled for 80 days before being lynched by citizens for killing Berenice III

80 BCE

Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos (Auletes)

Son of Ptolemy IX; died 51 BCE

80– 58 BCE

Cleopatra V Tryphaena

Wife of Ptolemy XII, mother of Berenice IV

79 -68 BCE

Cleopatra VI

Daughter of Ptolemy XII

58 - 57 BCE

Berenice IV

Daughter of Ptolemy XII; forced to marry Seleucus Kybiosaktes, but has him strangled. Joint rule with Cleopatra VI until 57 BCE.

58–55 BCE

Ptolemy XII Neos Dionysos

Restored; reigned briefly with his daughter Cleopatra VII before his death

55–51 BCE

Cleopatra VII

Jointly with her father Ptolemy XII, her brother Ptolemy XIII, her brother-husband Ptolemy XIV, and her son Ptolemy XV; also known simply as Cleopatra

51–30 BCE

Ptolemy XIII

Brother of Cleopatra VII

51–47 BCE

Arsinoe IV

In opposition to Cleopatra VII

48-47 BCE

Ptolemy XIV

Younger brother of Cleopatra VII and Ptolemy XIII

47–44 BCE

Ptolemy XV

Infant son of Cleopatra VII; aged 3 when proclaimed co-ruler with Cleopatra. Last known ruler of ancient Egypt when Rome took over.

44-30 BCE

Rome

Cleopatra VII had affairs with Roman Dictator Julius Caesar and Roman General Marc Antony, but it was not until after her suicide (after Marc Antony was defeated by Octavian, who would later be Emperor Augustus) that Egypt became a province of Rome in 30 BCE. Subsequent Roman Emperors were accorded the title of Pharaoh, although exclusively while in Egypt. One Egyptian king-list lists the Roman Emperors as Pharaohs up to and including Decius who died in 251 CE.

Notes

↑ 1.01.1Clayton 1995, p. 217. "Although paying lip-service to the old ideas and religion, in varying degrees, pharaonic Egypt had in effect died with the last native pharaoh, Nectanebo II in 343 BC"

↑Josef Wegner, The Nature and Chronology of the Senwosret III–Amenemhat III Regnal Succession: Some Considerations based on new evidence from the Mortuary Temple of Senwosret III at Abydos, JNES 55, Vol.4, (1996), pp.251

References

J. H. Breasted, History of Egypt from the Earliest Time to the Persian Conquest, 1909

J. Cerny, 'Egypt from the Death of Ramesses III to the End of the Twenty-First Dynasty' in The Middle East and the Aegean Region c.1380-1000 BC, Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-08691-4

Clayton, Peter A. (1995). Chronicle of the Pharaohs: The Reign-by-Reign Record of the Rulers and Dynasties of Ancient Egypt. The Chronicles Series (Reprinted ed.). London: Thames and Hudson. ISBN978-0-500-05074-3.